Angiogram risk

[PeterJemmett]

I am a 64 year old man with previous history of a heart attack in Dec 2016. I am due to have a coronary angiogram at the end of the month, I know the risks are fairly low but I have been in persistent AFib since early May (less 3.5 days following a cardioversion early Aug) and I'm just getting a little concerned if there is any additional risk having this procedure while in AFib?

[Jako999]

There are always risks but the hospital don’t like killing people it looks bad in their figures 😀 so they will only do it if the need is greater then the risk.Hope it all goes well I’m sure it will.

[Prada47]

Your team will have assessed Risk v Reward my Cardiologist won't open my RCA because the Risk is greater than the Reward. I am 100% convinced your Team wouldn't go ahead if Risk was greater than Reward. I thought of paying for my Cremation up front prior to my last procedure then thought " Don't be a P***k " Relax

[Zbignieva]

I was really scared, especially as I ended up having 3 angiograms (1 for the stent) in May, but then I realised that:

- if I don’t do anything I am at a much higher risk of dying

-if anything happens during the angiogram, I am already in a hospital gown and surrounded by a team of 6-10 medical professionals

-there is emergency equipment and resus drugs in the room, and I have a direct line in already

-that little tiny elevated bench in that room makes it easy to work on a patient

-I am wired up so they would notice if anything happened almost immediately

It really would be the best place for anything to happen.

🙂

[PeterJemmett]

I'm not worried about the angiogram itself, I have been through 3 of them before but never while in AFib, this has only developed since my last angiogram and more recently becoming persistent.

I was just wondering if that could cause extra complications to the procedure.

[PeterJemmett]

Since going into persistent AFib my running has almost come to a grinding halt, I'm still getting down to parkrun though this now involves much walking - where I was doing 26-27 minutes pre-Covid I'm now happy with 50 mins!

peterjemmett.blogspot.com/2...

[reidmar]

Hi Peter

I'm sure if you discuss your concerns beforehand (maybe make a few notes of questions to take with you, as if you're anything like me I forget a lot of what I meant to ask, OR even give them a quick ring to see if it can be discussed to put your mind at rest as extra stress and worry's not going to help matters) they'll advise and hopefully reassure you before proceeding with the angio.

I was always led to believe that the angio will give them the best picture, without actually fully opening you up) of what's going on inside and what steps might need to be taken (if any). After mine I was shown on the screen of a definite 2x bypass but maybe 1 or 2 more depending on how they see things once opened and they're inside (hence the quadruple).

I know its easy to say but try not to worry too much and best wishes that all goes well and enjoy the improved health awaits you.

[Ealing2022]

Hi Peter,

You have received some very good advice already. If I may add a slightly different take which I hope will put your mind at rest. When I was briefed by my Cardiologist before my Angiogram she explained the risk factors to me and asked me to sign the permission form. I always ask a lot of questions, so I asked the obvious ones about what are the probabilities of the events on the form occurring, and as you have had an angiogram before you know the ones I am referring to so I will not list them here. I then asked what the procedures were in each case, including the rather dramatic 2% one that we all worry about in situations like this. For each eventuality there is a very well understood procedure which the angiogram/angioplasty team train for. I was assured that the chances of the team not being able to deal with these eventualities is remarkably small. I agree with Prada47 your Risk v Reward must be positive or they would not be offering you the procedure again.

I hope that helps.

[ILowe]

You ask a good specific question. The nearest answer I can get to your question is this. I had an Angiogram while under Afib. I was in hospital while they experimented with different drug regimes. The one concern of the team was my INR, which they required to be less than 3.00.

I believe in pointedly and persistently reminding them of the risks. On the one hand, High risk patients get special treatment and perks. The down side is the test/treatment can be delayed.

I liked Ealing2022 and the idea of asking about specific risks and if they had a procedure and equipment ready. The husband of a friend of mine, not in UK, died while on routine outpatients operation to change the battery of a pacemaker. A problem developed during the operation, and the emergency equipment was at the other end of the hospital.

In my case, my Angiogram was 4pm Friday afternoon. It is well known that this is a peak time for road accidents due to drivers being sleepy. So, my job as the patient was to make sure they were all awake! A bit of humour was needed. I played the fool, and had fun. I told them to shut me up when they needed to concentrate. I told them how previous long line catheters had hit problems and been jammed and hard to take out. I reminded them my veins collapsed in the afternoons, and I feel the cold easily.

The team were excellent. They even refused to accept my tolerance of the position on the bed and insisted that I had to be really comfortable with the head and legs -- they wanted me relaxed, warm and not moving around. They told me to talk as much as I wanted, about anything, and they tested me, quip versus quip. I had a great time.

[BicuspidBloke]

I was worried sick about my Angiogram but I actually really enjoyed it. Bizarre. The doctor put my mind at ease in the chat an hour beforehand - they and the team are experts and know what they are doing. Hopefully they will reassure you too.

He went through the risks and mentioned a remote chance of 'death on the table'. I gulped and asked if he had ever lost anyone. He just laughed heartily and said "of course I have!!". That made me laugh and say "you're not meant to tell me that!". But he lent in, put his hand on my shoulder and said "you've got to remember I've done thousands of these. I'm really good. You'll be fine, I promise."

It was brilliant by him and made me realise they do all know what they're doing. I hope it goes fine for you too.

[Heather1957 in reply to BicuspidBloke]

OMG I have had 3 now, but for my first one I was petrified.

Unfortunately I had a stroke 4 days later, luckily it was very minor (although an MRI showed it was an actual stroke) I am about 98% okay now.

Since that happened I have had 2 more angiograms although both in the same day which resulted in 2 stents being fitted - I have to trust the medical team that give me the information so I can make informed chances.

Trust them.